Huge news from Toyota. most of it sad, but a dear old friend lives on!

[Seanz0rz]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/15/toyota-supra-is-doa-fj-cruiser-wont-be-refreshed-more-hybrids/

here are the parts we really care about:

A report by Automotive News detailing Toyota's future products reveals that the automaker's focus will be realigned to meet new fuel efficiency standards and limiting high-powered and niche offerings.

The Supra revival has been shelved due to high mpg requirements, allowing Toyota to focus on its RWD coupe, jointly developed by Subaru. Also, there's only room for one body-on-frame SUV from the automaker, so the 4Runner will be re-engineered for the 2010 model year, will debut in either New York or Chicago, and the FJ Cruiser will complete its lifecycle and be dropped in the next few years.


its awful sad to see the FJ go. but i think we can all agree it was a vehicle that stepped on alot of other vehicle's toes in toyota's lineup. its wonderful that they decided to keep the 4runner, and hopefully its dimensions will decrease with the coming 5th generation. with luck (and its something i believe will happen) alot of the FJC elements will be incorporated into the 4Runner of new, such as a rear locker, fancy interior gadgets, etc.

so what do you all think? happy to see the FJ go? i think we are all slightly relieved that the 4Runner name will live on, and hopefully they dont water down the brand anymore than they already have!

origional article, requires subscription: http://www.autonews.com/article/20080811/ANA03/808110334

[RunnerUp]

as long as they dont make the interior of the 5th gen all plastic and cheap looking (just my opinion) with huge blind spots ill be happy... a rear locker and maybe a 6 speed would be nice as well.

of course im sad to see the fj go, because i think it brought a lot of people to the toyota side as opposed to the jeep side, but we will see what happens with the 5th gen before i elaborate on that.

anyways, i am REALLY glad that they are continuing the 4runner, and like you said, perhaps toyota will bring it back to its roots of a true offroader, instead of a mall crawling grocery getter most people use the 4th gen for (obviously not too many in this crowd do though!)

[RunnerUp]

oh, and im REALLY sad to not see the supra rereleased, though i cant say im surprised, toyota has been pushing it off for 10 years now, i dont expect it to come back anytime soon.

[CJM]

I dont believe anything is written in stone, they crap like this all the time. If anything they should build a diesel 4wd minitruck and they would make out like bandits.

[fustercluck]

I'd moan if the fj had a factory solid front axle...

[corax]

it makes sense that the 4runner name would live on as it has been around longer and has more "brand recognition" than the FJC. I'm sure Toyota is looking to incorporate the gadgets people want and like into the new 4runner as well as eliminate the FJC blind spot, which was one of the few major criticisms (and was mainly there due to the look they were going for).

I do hope that the truck line starts to downsize a bit, I'd really like to get a 4 dr, manual trans mini Taco - by the time they had the 4dr avail as a manual it was already too big for my tastes. Besides, as fuel economy is a paramount concern these days, they will almost have to downsize to maintain market share (the American truck market was tough enough to get into, they don't want to backslide) and salability - a high mileage turbo diesel 4cyl would help immensely in this.

[fustercluck]

Bingo Corax, a turbo diesel 4 door solid front axle mini truck......with lots of cup holders and a few creature comforts is in order.

[Seanz0rz]

lol. i just want a stock rear locker and really comfortable factory seats. the rest ill add myself. dont quite trust them to not muck it up.

[corax]

Bingo Corax, a turbo diesel 4 door solid front axle mini truck......with lots of cup holders and a few creature comforts is in order.


that's what I'm talking about, a return of the no frills basic indestructable Toyota mini truck. That why I can't get away from my 80's Toyotas . . . I just don't think the new-truck-buying public would be behind it.

[fustercluck]

Bingo Corax, a turbo diesel 4 door solid front axle mini truck......with lots of cup holders and a few creature comforts is in order.




that's what I'm talking about, a return of the no frills basic indestructable Toyota mini truck. That why I can't get away from my 80's Toyotas . . . I just don't think the new-truck-buying public would be behind it.


That's because they are all little cats...

[CJM]

Exactly fuster...sad aint it?

All I want a TD 4wd minitruck the size of the old minis, the new taco is way to big-almost the size of my t100 and the old tundra was a perfect midsize. I think the new tundra is ugly.

But the American public are interested in how it looks over form and function. Btw, did you know most people who buy cars only look at 2 things (in this order): 1. Color, 2. Does it look good.

[fustercluck]

Exactly fuster...sad aint it?

All I want a TD 4wd minitruck the size of the old minis, the new taco is way to big-almost the size of my t100 and the old tundra was a perfect midsize. I think the new tundra is ugly.

But the American public are interested in how it looks over form and function. Btw, did you know most people who buy cars only look at 2 things (in this order): 1. Color, 2. Does it look good.



Some consider a home purchase with similar superficiality....nuts!

[YotaFun]

I am not sad to see the FJ go really.
Yes a great off-roader but just didn't cut it for me.
I am upset that they wont bring back the supra but such as life, at least some RWD vehicle is coming out (although it wont be fully Toyota...)

The only thing I am worried about with the 5th Gen Runner is them taking it off an actual frame...
I don't think its an option to do it that way but you never know....

I do see the lug pattern changing to match the rest of the line up though...
I wonder if the Tacos will follow in suit in a couple of years, it always seems that after the Runners get redesigned the Taco is next on the list.

I would kill for a TD 4WD Pickup, but I just don't see it happening soon enough for Toyota, just not here in the states...

Looking forward to seeing what gets put out...

[fustercluck]

If they take it off the frame, they might as well call it a rav4...

[YotaFun]

If they take it off the frame, they might as well call it a rav4...


This is ture...
But you never know...

[CJM]

I feel that all the car makers are going for lighter made vehicles, using more plastic (which is bad if you so much as tap something) and trying so hard to outdo eachother.

Honestly I want a good METAL bodied, with body on frame design!!! But that wont happen, chevy was the last of the real trucks up until about 04, now forget about it. Thank ford and thier superduty honkin truck..The old F250 HD did just as well if you had a solid axle model.

[fustercluck]

Why is it that we could put a man on the moon, cure polio, conduct open heart surgery, harness the atom, but the only answer to the energy question is diminished quality of life, conservation and vulnerability?

Why is it that for some in power and position the answer is always 'no' or 'we can't'?

What ever happened to do what we must while we press on to future equivalent technologies?

[CJM]

Why is it that we could put a man on the moon, cure polio, conduct open heart surgery, harness the atom, but the only answer to the energy question is diminished quality of life, conservation and vulnerability?

Why is it that for some in power and position the answer is always 'no' or 'we can't'?

What ever happened to do what we must while we press on to future equivalent technologies?


ITs called POLITICS and it rules the world.

[tulsa_sr5]

Totally expected one of the two would be let go after it model run, and I'm glad it was the FJ to be honest. I'm not getting my hopes up about the new 4runner being what we would like though, toyota seems to be listening a little too close to their focus groups these days. Hence stuff like the new xb.

I don't hold out much hope for new minitrucks either. If you look at the smallest tacoma model avail today, the 2wd reg cab, it's really not that much bigger than my 86. I'd be shocked if it makes up 10% of retail tacoma sales, so if i'm toyota i look at that & see pretty much zero demand for an even smaller one.

What I'd really like and is never gonna happen, is to see the 70 series landrcuiser with all it's glorious different configurations and options here,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Land_Cruiser#70_Series_.281985.E2.80.93pres ent.29
edit: i just noticed that article says the 70 series went to 5 bolt wheels in 99

[YotaFun]

Yeah in 99 the bought the LC to 5 lug, and now the tundra's and Sequia's are 5 lugh, so I foresee this happening to the newer 4Runners and eventually the Tacomas...

I liked the 6 lug but oh well...

[CJM]

6 Lug with smaller studs and lugs vs 5 lug with bigger studs and lugs iirc.

[YotaFun]

6 Lug with smaller studs and lugs vs 5 lug with bigger studs and lugs iirc.


Yup, and i think it was Sean that told me that the 5 lug design is stronger than the 6.

I guess my OCD prefers the 6 lug.

[Seanz0rz]

thats what ive heard from a couple of mech. engineers. i like 6 bolt better though...

[CJM]

Honestly it makes finding wheels very annoying imho, as many chevy wheels will fit yotas up until now.

[Lee]

im not unhappy to see the fj go either. no offense to those who love them, but theyre not my cup of tea at all.

[RobG]

im not unhappy to see the fj go either. no offense to those who love them, but theyre not my cup of tea at all.

That pretty much sums it up for me, but much better than I would have said it.

I don't like not being able to get the 4runner in a manual but I bet they don't sell a lot of those. Not too concerned with any of it, I see keeping my 4runner as my trail rig until I die or hit the lotto. Mods are just too expensive and I can't image banging up a newer vehicle around. An engine swap when the time comes, a few more high $ mods and I should be good. Then again I am a lot older than most of you.

Hate to admit it but if I had to buy a new vehicle today it would probably be a 4 door Rubicon. I'd probably buy an 80 series before that happens though.

[gilby4runner]

I am happy that they are keeping the 4runner. I do hope they take heed to advice given on forums such as this one about its styling and capability. I love my 02 but i am not a big fan of the 4th generation runner. I know that someday i will have to get another toyota and if i had to choose between the 2, (4th gen or FJC) i would have gone with the FJC. I hope they 5th gen runner is a good blend of the two.

[2ndGen]

for all the major car companies, making more profit their very first gal, some times building the best cars isn't, best car doesn't translate to best profit, best seller doen't always mean best money maker, etc, you got the idea. companies spend billions of dollars each year on marketing and research just trying to figure out where the money is, remember there are more soccer mom's driving 4Runners than us.

5th gen 4Runner, FJC, LC... i can careless, not a fan of any of them, i was into FJC till i test drove one, yikes!! by the way, aren't the new 4Runner, LC same as Highlander?

[Seanz0rz]

highlander is loosely based off of the camery platform. the 4runner is still, and will be body on frame.